Margaritis Kastellis
Greek composer and army officer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Margaritis Kastellis (Castellis) (Greek: Μαργαρίτης Καστέλλης) (1907–1972[1][2] ) was a Greek composer and army officer known for his work in military music.[3] His arrangement and adaptation of the Hymn to Liberty for military band is still played Greece today.[4] He was born in Chrysoupoli (a city in northern Greece) and died in Athens.[1]
Life and career
Kastellis studied under Manolis Kalomiris.[1] He joined the Greek Army at an early age, as a musician, and upon completion of a full career, he left with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, having served as Chief Inspector of Military Bands nationwide.[1] After retiring in 1963, he taught for several years at the National Conservatoire.[1] He was an authority on wind instruments (both woodwind and brass, including brass band instruments).[citation needed]
Style
The main features of his music are:
- A profound attachment to popular musical tradition.
- A marked preference for "freer" form of composition (suite, fantasy) over more "formal" ones (sonata, symphony, concerto), though he was by no means unfamiliar with the latter.
A large part of his scores are to be found at the Thessaloniki University Library (Department of Musical Studies), along with a 2002 thesis Christina Anastassiou.[5]
Selected works
Compositions
For orchestra
- Introduction and Round Dance from Epirus
- Prelude and Dance from Epirus
- Greek Dances (on motives taken from Greek Island tunes)
For military band
- Introduction and Round Dance from Epirus
- On the Mountain Slopes of Zagori
- The Booted Eagle
- Thessaly (march)
Chamber music
- Little Suite for clarinet and bassoon
- Elegy for two clarinets
Piano music
- Greek Dances
- Little Greek Suite (4 hands)
Songs
- Listen to my Secret
- The Hazelnut Tree
- The Sailor
- The Shepherdess' Lover
- The Heart of a Woman (for 4 voices)
Arrangements and transcriptions
For Orchestra
- Little Lemon Tree
- The Zalongo Dance
- Vassiliki (Gives the Orders)
- Farewell, ye Fair Maids
- Lyngos
For Military Band
- Hymn to Liberty
- Florilège (Songs by Attique)
- Prayer (Bortniansky)
- Reveille (for the Infantry)
- Reveille (for the Artillery)